Honda Puts Former F1 Champion In its NSX-GT Race

McLaren-Honda team reserve driver Jenson Button will make his Super GT debut, after being confirmed as part of Team Mugen’s line-up for the Suzuka 1000km race.

Published: Monday, June 5, 2017, 10:18 [IST]

The 2009 Formula One World Champion Jenson Button stepped out of racing at the end of last season and had since only been taking the big assignments.

For example, Button came out of retirement only to race in the Monaco GP after his former wingman Fernando Alonso went on to race in the Indy 500 under Honda.

Honda Puts F1 Champion Jenson Button To Race In It’s NSX-GT

Jenson Button has been linked to a Suzuka 1,000km drive since 2016, and fresh off the back of his one-off outing for McLaren in Monaco it's been confirmed that Button will race a Team Mugen NSX-GT at the 46th and final running of the Suzuka event.

"After driving an NSX Concept-GT at the Honda Racing Thanks, Day last December, I became interested in racing in Super GT," said Button. "I spoke with Honda, and they have given me the chance to race at the Suzuka 1000km. As an F1 driver and a member of Team Mugen, I will push to win."

"I am very much looking forward to racing in front of my Japanese fans again."

The former F1 champ will be joined in the GT500 car by Hideki Mutoh and Daisuke Nakajima. "Jenson is an extremely talented and experienced driver, and we hope he will have a great race," added Team Mugen director Nagataka Tezuka.

He will test the NSX-GT for the first time at Suzuka during a tyre test on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. Button will test the NSX-GT for the first time at Suzuka during a tyre test next week.

In 2016, the Englishman's fellow McLaren reserve Oliver Turvey participated in Super GT for Honda and claimed pole position for the Suzuka 1000km in a rare recent high in the series for the manufacturer.